Station-indicator.



H. S. VOTAW.& H. G. UOULSON.

STATION INDIGATOR.

APPLICATION IIL'ED JAN. 9, 1911.

1,058,817. Pa nted Apr. 15,1913.

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H. S. VOTAW & H. G. GOULSON. STATION INDIGATOR. APPLICATION I'ILBD JAN.9, 1911.

1,058,817, 7 Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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H. S. VOTAW &- H. G. GOULSON.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1911.

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' Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Q

HOMER S. VOTAW, 0F LAURIER, WASHINGTON, AND HARRY GLENN COULSON,

PORTLAND, INDIANA.

STATION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15,1913.

Application filed January 9, 1911. Serial No. 601,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HOMER S. VOTAW, of Laurier, in the county of Ferryand State of ashington, and HARRY GLENN COUL- SON, of Portland, in thecounty of Jay and State of Indiana, both citizens of the United States,have invented. certain new and. useful Improvements in Station-Indicators, of which the following is a full, clear, and accuratespecification.

The device herein set forth is intended as an indicator to be placedinside of a railway car, or other vehicle, to indicate the variousstations as they are being approached by the vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a station indicator to belocated inside of cars or other vehicles to indicate the variousstations progressively as they'are being ap proached, to provide meansfor calling the attention of passengers thereto, and to pro vide for thedisplay of advertisements in connection therewith.

More particularly stated the object is to provide a station indicatorwhich will be pneumatical in operation, will be easily operated andcontrolled, and which can be manufactured at a comparatively low price.

Other objects and particular advantages of the invention will be broughtout in the course of the following specification, and that which is newwill be correlated in the appended claims.

One manner for carrying out our inven tion in a practical manner andthat which we have determined to be the most simple and efficient isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a frontelevation of our invention complete as it would appear in actualpractice in a car or other vehicle. Fig. 2 shows the face of a portionof the ribbon on which the names of the stations or streets are printed,and on which advertisements may be printed. Fig. 3 shows a frontelevation of the interior mechanism with the front of the case and theribbon removed, the central portion being shown as broken away. Fig. 4shows an end elevation of the mechanism, certain parts being in sectiontaken on line m-m of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation takenthrough the stop devices which are shown in elevation in Figs. 3 and 4.Fig. 6 shows a detail section of certain parts of the stop devices, astaken on line 2-z of Fig. 5. 1 Fig. 7 is a detail showing a frontelevation of the reversing mechanism. And Fig. 8 is a detail viewshowing the gong tapping mechanism.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several view's.

The several devices, which will be referred to in theirorder, arecarried upon the frame or back 12. Secured to and projecting out wardfrom said back are the several hangers or bearing members 3, 3, 4, 4,10, 10, 18, 18, 19, 19, 23, 23, 37-37, and also suitable brackets forthe cylinders 30 and 31, and the valve-box 7. Mounted in the bearings 4and 10 is the shaft 8, and mounted in the bearings 4 and 10 is the shaft8'. Secured on shaft 8 is the flange 13, and secured on shaft 8 is theflange 13. Revolubly n1ounted on shafts 8 and 8 are the respective spurpinions 9 and 9, each of which has a ratchet clutch formed on itsleft-hand end as indicated. Clutch collars 6 and 6 are slidably splinedon the respective shafts 8 and 8', substantially as indicated by spline48 in Fig. 7, and they are adapted to engage with the clutch ofpinions 9and 9 as shown at the lower portion of Fig. 3. Springs 5 and 5 tend tonormally hold the respective clutches in engagementwith each other.

Mounted in bearings 18 and 19 is the shaft 17, and mounted in bearings18 and 19 is the shaft 17. Flanges 14 and 14 are secured upon therespective shafts 17 and 17. Secured on the outer ends of shafts 17 and17 are the respective thumb buttons 21 and 21 Rollers 16 and 16 aremounted between the respective pairs of flanges 13-14 and 13'14',carried on the respective pairs of shafts 817 and 8-17. Springs 20 and20, pressing on the respective pins 22 and 22, which latter are disposedthrough the respective shafts 17 and 17, serve to hold the said rollersin position on the respective projecting ends of the shafts 817 and 817.The flanges 14 and 14 are resiliently pressed against the right-handends of the respective rollers 16 and 16 by means of the respectivesprings 20 and 20.

Rollers 16 and 16 are caused to revolve with shafts 8 and 8" by means ofthe cross pins 15 and 15, which fit in slots therefor across the ends ofthe respective rollers, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Slidably mounted to revolve said pinions when the bar is' moved endwise,turning said pinions opposite to each other. Said bar 26 is adapted tobe moved upwardly by piston-rod 29 to which it is connected, and isadapted to be returned to normal position by the action of spring 34.

Roller 24 is mounted in bearings 23-23, and it is located parallel withrollers 16 and 16, and is positioned a little forward of thecenterthereof, as shown in Fig. 4. Bar 38 is mounted on the outer ends ofposts 3737, and is located parallel with roller 24 and directlytherebelow, being only a short distance fro-m roller 16. Said bar 38 hasa hole 0 formed therein near the lefthand end thereof.

Numeral 3O denotes the main cylinder; numeral 31 the smaller cylinder;and numeral 7 denotes the valve-box; all of which are carried bysuitable brackets or hangers extending out from the back 12.

. Pipe 40 leads from a source of compressed air which may be turned onand off, either at the indicator or at the source of supply. Said pipe40 leads into chamber 6 (Fig. 5)

of the valve-box 7 Pipe 43 connects chamber 0 (being the upper portionof valve-box 7) with the lower end of cylinder 30. Pipe 33 connects porta of cylinder 30 with the enlarged escape tube 32 (Fig. 6). Pipe 47connects the interior of tube 32 (being 10- cated'near the closed end ofthe latter) with the chamber d of the cylinder 31, as indicated in Figs.5 and 6. Piston 45 works up' and down in cylinder 31 and it is connectedto valve 44 by piston-rod 36. Spring 46 tends to normally hold valve 44open, there being a partition in valve-box 7 having avalve-seat adaptedto be closed by said valve 44. Pipe 35 leads from the hole 0 through bar38 to chamber .9 located in the lower por tion of cylinder 31. Whenrack-bar 26 moves upward, roller 16, or 16, is rotated according towhich clutch collar 6 or 6 is in engagement. By reversing the deviceeither of the collars 6 or 6 may be held out of engagement white theother is permitted to engage by action of spring 5 or 5. The reverse isaccomplished by the handle 39 on end of rod 28, which is mounted in theupwardly projecting members 3 and 3.

As is shown in Fig. 7 lever 1 is pivoted on pin 50 projecting frommember 3. Lever 1 carries at its upper end the pin 49 which engages thegroove of collar 6. Then rod 28 is turned cam 2 engages lever 1 and theparts move to the position shown by the dotted lines. This position isretained by reason of the flat face of cam 2. Ca ms 2 and 2 are placedat an angle of degrees on rod 28, so that one clutch may be held outwhile the other is in engagement.

Ribbon 53 is to be wound back and forth upon rollers 16 and 16, and topass over in front and in contact with roller 24 and the bar 38, asindicated by dotted lines f, g, and 7c, in Fig. 4. The holes a in theribbon are in line with the hole 0 in the bar 38.

It will be noticed that the hole 0 is covered and closed by the ribbon53 except when the holes 6 come to that point. The ribbon 53 is rolledfrom rollers 16 to roller 16 or viceversa until such length is wound upas to expose in succession the desired number of sta tions or streetnames, when its motion is reversed by turning handle 39, and the stationor street name then appears in the reverse order. By reason of thelocation of the holes 6, and the stopping device, the motion of theribbon is stopped just as .a name and an advertisement comes into fullview, an action which is made necessary by reason of the varying lengthof stroke of rack bar 26. This varying length of stroke is madenecessary on account of the changing diameter of the ribbon upon spools16 and 16, as the ribbon is rolled .and unrolled. Now when air is turnedinto the pipe 40, it passes through chambers Z) and 0 and pipe 43 andinto cylinder 30 where it pushes piston 42 and piston rod 29 upward.Rack-bar 26 being connected with piston-rod 29 also moves upward,rotating pinions 9 and 9 and shafts 8 or 8 (according to which clutch isengaged) with roller 16, or 16, and the ribbon wound thereon. As thepiston 42 continues to move upward, it passes the port a, but not untilthe ribbon has moved. along sufficiently to close the hole 0, with whicha hole 6 registered at the beginning of the motion. Piston 42 havingpassed port a, continues to move upward, but now a small portion of theair passes into pipe 33 (pipe being smaller than pipe 43) and escapesinto the open from tube 32, as shown in Fig. 6. This escaping of airfrom tube 32 produces a suction or vacuum in pipe 47, upon the principleof lateral diminution of pressure, and hence produces a vacuum orsuction in chamber d of the cylinder 31, with which pipe 47 isconnected. The suction in chamber d produces an upward pull on piston45, but the latter cannot move because chamber 3 below it is closed tothe entrance of outside air. Motion of the ribbon continues until a holea in the ribbon registers with hole 0, when air will enter through hole0 with a rush, passing through pipe 35 into chamber .9, which,manifestly will permit piston 45 to move quickly upward, carrying withit the rod 36, and therefore closing valve 44, thereby cutting off theflow of compressed air through pipe 40. Valve 44 will remain closed byreason of the pressure in pipe 40 pressing thereagainst, until the airis turned off from pipe 40, aft-er which piston 45, rod 36, and valve 44will move down, that is back to normal position, by the action of spring46. Piston 42, rod 29, and rack bar 26- will now move back under actionof spring 34 to normal position. In this return movement the shafts 8and 8' are not rotated because the clutch which is in engagement slipsits teeth as a ratchet.

When it is desired to change the ribbon for one with diflerent stationsor streets than those shown, the front of the case may be opened, theribbon is then all wound on one roller (16 for instance) by turning thehandwheel 11, then by pulling on thumb button 21, against the action ofspring 20, the shaft 17 may be pulled out of the hole in the end of theroller 16 and away from the roller 16 far enough so that the roller canbe lifted outward at that end and taken off of shaft 8 at the other end.The roller carrying the new ribbon is next placed with its slotted endon the end of shaft 8, then swing it into line with shaft 17 which isallowed to spring into place at the right hand end. The end of theribbon is next carried over bar 38 and roller 24, and started aroundroller 16 by turning wheel 11. Band wheels 11 and 11 are intended, moreparticularly, for use when it is desired for any reason to operate theribbon manually.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 8 we will describe the tappingmechanism, or gong: The gong 51 is attached to the front of the case 52.Bracket 54 extends back from the inner face of the front 52. Saidbracket 54 carries the fulcrum pin 60 and the stop pin 61. The tapperarm 55 is pivoted on pin 60 and it carries the fulcrum pin 57 and stoppin 58. Trip member 56 is pivoted on pin 57. The helical spring 59 hasone end attached to member 56, between pins 57 and 58, and the other endis attached to projection of bracket 54. The action is as follows: Inthe downward or return movement of the rack-bar 26, pin 25 engages theupper edge of member 56, causing the tapper-arm 55 and member 56 torotate ust as if they were one solid piece) about pin 60, member 56moving downward and the tapper end moving upward away from the gong.WVhen rotated through a few degrees of the arc pin 25 will slide pastthe end of member 56, and then the spring 59 instantly bring backmembers 56 and 55 to the position shown, the tapper 55 striking againststop pin 61. The right-hand end of arm 55 being small in size, springs alittle farther, allowing the tapper to strike the gong a smart rap. Inthe upward movement of the rack-bar 86, pin 25 engages the lower edge ofmember 56, and since member 56 and arm 55 can not rotate as a wholeabout pin 60 on account of the stop pin 61, member 56, only,

rotates about pin 57 as an axis until pin 25 moves past its end, when itis brought back to normal position, against stop-pin 58, by the actionof spring 59. The sound of the gong serves to call the attention of thepassengers to the changed station or street name, and also to theadvertisements displayed.

Having now fully shown and described our invention as fully and ascompletely as we are able to do at this time, what we claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an indicator of the class described, a ribbon, spaced drums onwhich said ribbon is oppositely wound, means for oppositely andindependently rotating the drums, said means including a cylinder, afluid operated piston contained in said cylinder and operativelyconnected to the drums, an exhaust tube for the cylinder having anenlarged end, a valved connection controlling the supply of fluid to thecylinder, an inclosed piston connected with the valve, a port connectingsaid inclosure and enlarged end of the exhaust tube whereby the exhaustwill cause a suction in the piston inclosure last mentioned tending toclose the supply valve and means for admitting fluid behind the lastmentioned piston to shift the same and close the valve carried thereby.

2. In a station indicator, a ribbon having alined openings therein andcontaining the names of the stations to be disposed to viewsuccessively, means for driving the ribbon and including a fluidoperated bar, means for controlling the supply of fluid to operate thebar, means for relieving the bar of the pressure of the fluid when thebar has moved a predetermined distance and means conjunctively operatedby the last mentioned means and the openings in the ribbon by fluidentering through the latter, to bring the ribbon to a stop.

3. A station indicator comprising a web having an alined row of openingstherethrough, means fordriving the web and including a piston-operatedbar, a valve controlling the supply of air to the piston for moving theweb, a duct leading from the cylinder of the piston to exhaust the airtherefrom in front of the piston when. the piston has moved apredetermined distance, said duct having an enlarged outlet, a secondvalve connected with the first named valve, means associated therewithto hold the first valve open, a casing for the second valve havingcommunication with the outlet whereby a laxity of air is created by saidexhaust tending to move said valves simultaneously and a conduitcommunicating with said casing behind the valve therein to aline withthe openings in the web for supplying air to the casing to overcome themeans for holding the first valve open whereby the exhaust will shiftthe valves to close the first and cut off the air supply.

4. In a station indicator, a ribbon having alined openings therethroughand containing the names of stations and advertising matter, a casinghaving a view opening before which said names andmatter are arranged,rollers on which said ribbon is wound, means for manually rotating therollers, means for changing the direction of rotation of the rollers,pinio-ns carried by the rollers, a rack bar having oppositely disposedteeth engaging the pinions, a cylinder having an air supply, a piston inthe cylinder and connected to the bar for moving the same in onedirection, means for oppositely moving the bar, a second cylinder, anair conduit to exhaust air from the first cylinder, said conduit havingcommunication with the second cylinder and being provided with meanswhereby the exhaust will create a laxity of air therein, a piston in thesec- 0nd cylinder, an apertured bar over which the ribbon passes wherebythe openings will. register, a valve controlling the air supply andconnected to the second piston, a spring operating to hold said valveopen and a conduit connecting the bar aperture to the second cylinder tosupply air behind the second piston to close the valve upon registrationof said openings.

In testimony we have hereunto subscribed our names to this specificationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOMER S. VOTAVV. HARRY GLENN COULSON.

Vitnesses as to the signature of Homer S. Votaw:

ALEX. A. ANDERSON, CHAs. E. PRICE.

\Vitnesses as to the signature of Harry Glenn Coulson:

G. W. PEDDYCORD, V. O. I-IoELAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

